Garbage Day

Leosin was gone. He had taken himself away on some other business after she'd been rehabilitated some and brought to Waterdeep. His promises ran through her mind. 

"I'll see you again, someday, buddy! If you need any help? Seek out the aide of Lady Remalia Haventree." He looked down to her with a cheeky smile, "Remi will help you out, especially if you ever want to get serious about that offer. I hope you do someday-- it's always good to have people you can trust working beside you."

The little note that he'd scratched down on a loose piece of paper weighed heavy in her tunic pockets. It seemed to brush against her feathers, even though Koh knew it was just her mind playing games with her.

Like the idiot she was, Koh had found herself pacing outside of the Ulbrinter Villa for upwards of two hours. She was legitimately surprised that the town guard, or the constable, or whatever kind've authority that they had in this strange city, had not been called on her for interloping, loitering, or just being generally creepy. Instead, she had left the city behind entirely, travelling alone, on foot, and to... anywhere really.

"Honestly, I wouldn't've blamed them." Koh snicked to herself, snorting through her bill. 

Instead of making any world-shattering decisions, the recently-freed dacelan had opted to decline her one and only friend in this current material existence to, instead, amble aimlessly about the countryside. Koh was not even a day out from Waterdeep and she was already beginning to wonder what in the sky's name was she going to do with herself. Her goals were overwhelmingly undefined in this brave new world of land, grass, stone and tree.

Thus! Instead of fully worrying about it, despite herself, Koh found herself leisurely strolling along picturesque and pastoral Long Road, nearing the end of day one of three towards the settlement of Amphail. Seeing what the material plane had to offer, watching the sun go down, dodging caravans on the road, and playing Gumnut loud and whenever possible seemed as good a place as any to start.

She hummed to herself as golden hour began to take hold of the land, a crisp yellow glow bathed every space in a warmth that made her feel a little homesick. She hardly noticed as her feathers glided over the strings of her lute, offering a serene sound to the painter-worthy landscapes.

"The world really is somethin' else..." Koh's eyes crinkled in a smile. 

Just as she breathed in, anticipating a swelling key change in her song, her eyes widened and she stamped her hand on the Gumnut's strings, silencing the lush melody with a discordant twamp against its body. 

"Oi." She spoke aloud, "What's that all about?"

Swallowing hard, mood dampened in shock, she padded off the road and into the tall, extra golden, grass. Two weird looking gray... feet(?), attached to legs, attached to a whole body of some kind of person, thing, was easily visible from the roadside. It looked like a girl, from what she knew about the denizens of this plan-- it had those boob things, after all. 

Cocking her head, she craned her head forward, stretching out her neck before the rest her body, Koh gave this strange being a side-eye and a few blinks, cautious to approach. Loudly, she clacked her beak, making a hollow snapping sound. 

The lady didn't move. 

Koh held her breath and took a careful step forward, curling and expanding her foot to be as quiet as possible.

"Psst! Hey." She whispered.

Still, no movement.

"Shit." Koh looked left and right, up and down. 

This person had no blood on her clothes, no gaping wounds. Though an axe was close at hand, a big one, to this unusual individual, there seemed to be no signs of struggle.

Finally, Koh balanced on one foot, spreading her talons wide and gripping the dirt. With her free foot, Koh extended one toe and gently poked at the body before her. Is she... dea--?!

A sudden burst of sleep-movement rocked the gray being before her. The weird individual groaned a little, swatted her foot away, reached for its axe, dragged it forward, and cradled the great weapon closer. 

At this sight, Koh jumped back, neck retreating into a puff of feathers. Instinctively, she fluffed up, defensive and wide-eyed, as the definitely-not-dead girl before her continued her deep sleep, unbothered by Koh's presence. 

Though troubled by her baser reactions Koh looked all around again, still finding no one in sight besides her, the sun, and the one sleeping on the ground. She shrugged, removed her back from her shoulders, and sat on top of her feet, nestling in to watch over the sleeping stranger. 

"We can't have some actual creepers just takin' you away or somethin', can we?" She asked a snoozing body and the air. "Looks like I'm camping here for the night, eh?"

Hours passed as the tiefling continued her deep sleep. She stirred slightly every now and again until nightfall.

This feels great. I guess I was really tired.

The smell of smoke slowly filled her nostrils. She rolled over, trying to avoid it until her subconscious made her realize what it was. 

Smoke?  But that means there's... What the hell?! Wake up idiot!!

Her eyes shot open and she quickly quickly sat up as searing pain in her head returned. The dreary tiefling clutched her head with one hand as her eyes darted around, trying to figure her surroundings.

Where am I?

During the totally-not-dead-girl's sleep, Koh opted to unpack her bedroll, gather some sticks and tinder, and hunker down around the fire for the night. In between her tosses and turns, Koh looked on through turquoise eyes, but she did little else. She pulled out her beloveds and between to play a variety of songs played on both lute and dulcimer, alternating between the two however she fancied.



Her feathers brushed skillfully over Euca's strings as she held a pick between two, lightly strumming as the stars began to shine overhead. 

My new friend's out heckin' cold. She breathed through her beak, snorting a little.

Mid-song, she slowed her playing, quieting to a gentle piano as the mystery girl finally decided to wake up with a big start. 

"Oi! Oi!" Koh nearly dropped her pick, trying to motion to her new friend (hopefully friendly and not a slow burning slaver trap or anything that sinister), "S'okay! I've gotcha! You're safe n' all that!"

Her eyes darted to the sound of the voice.

What the fuck?

Her free hand quickly grabbed the axe near her as got on her feet.

"Where am I?!" She yelled as she looked confused at the giant bird. "What the fuck are you?!"

A jolt of pain rushed through her skull as she yelled. The tiefling clutched her head again as she groaned in pain.

"Why does my head hurt so fucking much?"

"Oi! Hey!" Koh exclaimed, loudly, jumping to her feet, Euca still in hand.

She gripped the neck of her dulcimer with one hand, now fully extending a wing over the fire in an effort to not be chopped in half. She seemed to protect the instrument first of all, noting that her sword was tucked away near her bedroll.

As soon as she readied herself to dodge an incoming attack, Koh craned her neck, eyes squinting at the girl's, sudden, pained expression.

"You okay over there? You not gonna kill me? Cause, uh, I'm pretty sure I'd be gamey if you did wanna eat me. Not worth the pain, really! You tell me if I need to start running, mate."

Her head continued to throb with pain as the bird spoke.

What the fuck is going on?

The tielfling dropped her weapon and cried out in pain as she fell back to the ground. Her hands covered her ears.

"Make it stop."

With wide eyes, Koh clacked her beak and finally let her verbal tirade trail off. She sighed through her nostrils and took a step forward, taking her chances.

Crossing the invisible line between them, Koh stopped before the mystery girl and crouched down to her level.

"I'm guessin' you've got some kinda headache? Mighty nasty one, yeah?" She paused and cocked her head, "Unless it was me, I know how to cause a ruckus, after all."